Horse-collar.



J. A. PRATER.

HORSE COLLAR.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.14,1912

- Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

T rrrcn JOHN A. PRATER, OF EDINBUBG', ILLINOIS.

HORSE-COLLAR.

Application filed February 14, 1912.

To all w from it may concern:

Be it known that l, dorm A. Pnivrnn a citizen of the United States, residing at Edinburg in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invent-ed new and useful Improvements in Horse-Collars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a horse collar and has for its primary object to provide a collar which may be adjusted so as to confortably fit about the neck of an animal, the collar being of a construction so as to minimize the weight on the neck and shoulders of the animal thereby avoiding the scarring or injuring of the neck of the animal when in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a collar in which leather shields are employed at the shoulders and at the top of the neck so as to relieve the pressure of the draft tugs on the neck thereby avoiding the wearing away of the hair on the hide of the animal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a collar which is simple in con struction, strong, durable, light in weight, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully descriied, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

in the drawings :-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a collaconructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 52 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view looking toward the inner side of one section of the collar. Fig. l; is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of one section of the collar. l5 a sectional view on the line Er -5 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawings by numerals the collar comprises a pair of neck plates 5, the same being formed with downwardly converging lower ends 6 on which are secured hooks 7 for engagement with an adjustable chain 8 or other bottom fastener, the plates being preferably constructed from sheet metal although the same may be made from any other suitable rigid material and are formed at their inner edges with out Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 35

i 911 Serial no. 677,434.

turned slightly curled flanges 9 providing channels 10 adapted to receive an ordinary pair of hames 1.1 which are connected their bottoms by means of the usual strap 19; and at their tops by the usual connection 13 whereby the said hamcs may be removed for the disengaging of the collar from the neck of an animal in the ordinary wellknown manner.

Suitably fixed to and extending re? wardly from the flanges 1) of the plates 0 are outwardly curved rearwardly extending shoulder wings 14ihaving connected thereto leather shields 15 which extend rearwardly and outwardly a considerable distance beyond the wings 1d and are adapted to cover the same. Fastened to the inner faces of the neck plates 5 are rearwardly directed brace arms 16 the same being also suitably fastened to the shields 15 so as to hold the same extended and in relatively taut condition whereby they will bear upon the shoulders of the animal when the collar is applied to the neck. Thus it will be seen that the shields 15 will protect the shoulders of the animal so as to avoid the rubbing of the hame tugs at such points and also prevent the collar from injuring the neck of the animal.

Adapted for detachable connection with the neck plates 5 at their upper ends is a neck yoke or saddle comprising a plate 1'? the same being bent medially to form an up ward bow whereby it will conform to the top of the neck of the animal and fixed to and straddling said plate 17 is a leather band 18 to the ends of which are fixed stud members 19 the same being formed with T-shaped heads 20 adapted for detachable engagement in elongated openings 21 formed at intervals in a bridge piece 22 mounted on each plate 5 longitudinally thereof at the upper end of the same, thus in this manner the plates 5 will be connected at their upper end and the neck yoke or saddle can be adjusted. so as to permit the collar to comfortably fit about the necks of dificrent size animals.

Mounted upon the neck yoke or saddle is an inverted substantially U-shaped pintle 28 the ends of which being suitably fixed to the plate 17 and to the same is swingingly connected a rocking hearing or bridge 2d the same being channeled to form a seat for the connection 13 joining the hames 11 near their upper ends thereby preventing the lowering of said connection 13 whereby it would rub upon the neck yoke or saddle 17 which would necessarily result in its exert-- ing friction upon the neck of the animal.

The hames 11 have mounted therein staples 25 to which are loosely connected the eyes of draft tugs or traces 27 as usual.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction of the collar and the manner of application will be clear, therefore, a further description of the same has been omitted.

Fixed to the shields 15 are outwardly bowed straps 28 the same straddling the brace arm 16 and in w iich are threaded adjusting screws 29 the same adapted to work against the said arm 16 and upon adjusting the said screws the shields 15 will be stretched thereby obviating undue slackening of the shields when subject to heavy usage.

hat is claimed is A horse collar comprising pad members for engaging the shoulders of a horse, a rigid bearing plate attached to each of said pad members, means for coupling said plates at their lower ends, a member adapted to bear upon the neck of a horse, means for coupling said neck bearing member to said plates, means adapted to support hames upon said plates, and means for adjustably coupling said pads to said halne supporting means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. PRATER.

Witnesses G. Liner-r, C. E. GANTRILL.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington D. C. 

